Lisa - I think the pandemic was the ultimate "sea change." For me, when I started visiting fashion blogs it was because I wanted to up my game sartorially. Fast forward many years later, after following, exploring and going down the rabbit hole, I've actually returned right back where I started. My style was always mine, but I didn't embrace it. I thought something was wrong with it because it was different - not on trend, certainly not mainstream and often, quite frankly, not available. So after many mistakes, prior to covid, I simply returned to me roots. But now I choose to embrace the essence of my style, it's not there by default. I was already withdrawing from most blogs - YLF is the only one I stop in on and that more for the chat! I have not been to a b&m store, well in I don't know when. Other than work, I am home. I got no where and that's the plan until this is over. I check in on online retailers that resonate - mostly Veronica Beard, Theory, EF, Stuart Weitzman, Aquatalia, Nordstrom and COH and Madewell for jeans. But just as I'm letting my "little silver highlights" grow in, the pandemic made me contemplate what's important to me. That's focusing on family, health, authenticity, and realizing I don't need to "follow" trends. What is available will dictate what I have to chooose from when I shop online. From that place I will organically shift my focus when I need to or want to replace items. Otherwise, I want to focus on the best version of me, if I walk alone so be it. At least it's my path and my path alone.

Interesting coversation, thanks for starting it lisa!
I am not much of a mall shopper - most of what I like about shopping is the breaks, having a drink on a terrace and watching the people go by. Of course, Antwerp city high street is pretty good for that, you see both excentric fashion academy students, tiny sixteen year olds dressed in primark, 'regular folk' and a satisfying amount of inspirational stylish people. I went shopping for an hour or two last week when it was drizzling and not uncomfortably busy. With my mask. I loved watching the people and reminding myself once more that style isn't about budget or heaps of clothes. That's why a hope the high street won't suffer further in these already trying times. Also, I find unexpected things shopping b&m and that's so satisfying.
But I never did get my inspiration from shopping windows really. Perfectly styled mannequins don't speak to me like a beautiful fashion edit, or street style does. So on that front things won't change as much for me. I love that YLF not only gives my the visual information and inspiration, but that Angie breaks it down too for my analytical mind to understand.

Jenni, we want to keep you here! You are an inspiration and deserve our respect and admiration for having overwon a previous "desperate feeling of needing something new."

Jenni, I certainly won't be voting you off the forum, that's for sure! The reason why I love YLF is because of all the different voices, perspectives, and different styles. Far from adding to the confusion, it's a reminder that there is no "one" right way to do things, and that the journey is personal! I definitely don't need to be in a space where everyone's the same as me; what's the point of that? xx

I have never found our malls to be very inspirational. It's all the same stuff and mostly geared to teenagers. I like to shop but much more at discount stores like TJ Maxx than at regular malls. I recently went to our local outlet mall which is outdoors. There were short lines to get in most stores and masks and hand sanitizer, but other than that it felt pretty normal.

I do like blogs and Instagram, just so I know what is new out there. I like visuals. And of course YLF is great for information on trends. I agree that I get most ideas from seeing what others are wearing and enjoy the outfit posts here.

It will be interesting to see how things change in the future. I have been doing more online shopping lately but I like to see and feel things in person, so always prefer b&m when possible.

Intriguing thread, LisaP! I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts.

I agree with LisaP that blogs are invaluable. Angie's blog is invaluable to me because she fits clothing on a myriad of bodies and thus her recommendations are spot on and not focused on herself -- far from it! Instagram influencers, unless they have my body type, are not very helpful to me except as something fun to check out now and again.

I'm an outlier in terms of my thoughts on brick and mortar retail. After coronavirus, people are going to crave a real-world experience. I think a lot of us are suffering from screen fatigue! There will be plenty of empty storefronts to rent and incentives for small business. No better time to grab some space and start a retail store, that's what I think!

Between the pandemic, the job change, and my wardrobe needs for my current job, I just don't see me needing to go shopping. My work schedule now allows for so few days off, or even hours off-duty, that I don't need a lot of stuff. I could see myself not needing to buy anything for a long time, TBH.
I am grateful for YLf, because Angie presents trends but doesn't PUSH trends. The way she presents trends makes it easy to see how one might work for me if I wanted it to; and the way she does sale item roundups is pretty cool, too.

For the next year or two, I need to focus on getting my finances under control. Having very little in the way of time off work will make that easier; and having Angie's expertise will help me by sifting through all the noise to find the few things that appeal to me enough to actually buy.

Lisa; you made me realize I go to a mall maybe once a year -- with my daughter at Christmas. I guess it's kind of a tradition. I'm not skilled enough to figure out trends by checking out windows.

I rely on Angie to let me know what's what and for ideas on how to put together outfits. Then, I mostly shop online at Nordstrom.com because I mostly need Petite sizes. I look to Topshop and a few other brands to figure out what's current. Other blogs/fashion sites I regard as eye candy that I don't really relate to personally.

And of course, I enjoy the Forum here for a variety of reasons.

Interesting....when I was talking about window shopping I wasn't talking malls. It's funny how our mindsets are so determined by our geographical location. I was thinking city streets...not that I live in a big city any more! Funny, that. Anyway...I've never derived inspiration from malls, per se, but from B&M stores, and their windows, and all the people milling about...for sure!!

And I miss it. Screen is not the same.

I went to a mall a few weeks ago and was saddened by what I saw at my favorite stores. Everything just felt so pointless. I too am in the camp of hoping things go back to how they were once people need to be *other places* and not home. Dressing for a role was the major driver for me.

I am curious to know what blogs you all like.

The first blogs I started reading were a couple of more crafty and food related blogs. I am a foodie but I am not really a crafty person. But I then moved into a few fashion related ones and for a while was always looking at "The Sartorialist" and "Garance Dore". Plus a couple of English bloggers - one is more on instagram now "Does my bum look 40" and "Not dressed as lamb" which I think led to me to YLF.

I used to look forward to Scott Schuman's early street style photos and they really inspired me, a Mum living in a provincial city. It really is fun to get a window on what people in different lives are wearing - at the time I loved the fashionistas outside the fashion shows, the New York girls with bikes, and the sharp dressing Italian men...... I still have some street style images from that time saved on my Pinterest page. They still speak to me - probably 8-10 years later. Here are three that I still love that I would wear today (why am I drawn to images of women with long dark hair?)

@elpgal - besides YLF, I routinely follow ‘hostess of the humble bungalow’ and ‘une femme d’un certain age’ - both 60yo+ and good at elevated classic casual style. I’ll occasionally check in on ‘accidental icon’ and ‘bag and a beret’ - both women with white hair and very avant-guard fashion ideas. Recently I’ve been going down a vintage rabbit hole with Youtubers Rachel Makesy, Bernadette Banner, and Morgan Donner. All,fun!

Thank you Sal and Carla. Off to check these out. I could use some inspiration.

Lisap, i too am mourning the end of strolling thru malls browsing, looking for what is new and trendy. For me, keeping up with fashion is another way of keeping up with the ideas, thoughts and current state of the world. For me, not understanding where fashion is is like saying i no longer care where current cultural is... as you say, magazines used to help to provide that, but IMO they have nothing left to say. I’m not an Instragram person, i just don’t get it, same as Pinterest. I read blogs (and I’m always looking for new interesting ones), and the Zoe Report and Who What Wear which i think of as more than blogs/less than magazines.

What Lisap:

"I do learn something from many posts about proportion and styling tricks (including forum members' posts!!) , but I’m also interested in the bigger picture and seeing different / trickier / more artistic expressions of style as well as how “real“ women in creative fields dress . I also still enjoy high- end / designer looks as “ bigger picture “ inspiration,"

and Griffin said

"I've actually returned right back where I started. My style was always mine, but I didn't embrace it. I thought something was wrong with it because it was different - not on trend, certainly not mainstream and often, quite frankly, not available."

And Sal, I loved "The Sartorialis" at that time, too-and was bookmarking that first white dress, too!:-))

Thank you all for your thoughts on this subject. There is a lot more I can say about how mall /chain stores are useful for trend stories ....vs what local boutiques are presenting , but I'll leave it at that . I've run out of gas for thinking and writing .